Quetta Sit-In Enters Day 16: Highway Remains Blocked
The ongoing protest sit-in in Quetta, organized by the Balochistan National Party (BNP) against the arrest of Baloch women, has entered its 16th day today.
BNP chief Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal is leading the sit-in, which is also attended by workers of various political and social organizations, women, and children.
Due to the sit-in, the Quetta-Karachi National Highway has been closed for the past sixteen days, due to which the provincial capital has been cut off from twelve districts of the province by land.
Hundreds of passengers are facing severe difficulties due to the closure of the national highway, while the delivery of essential goods has also been affected.
According to the BNP, the only demand of the sit-in was the immediate release of the arrested women belonging to the Baloch Students Organization (BYC). On the other hand, a hearing is also underway in the Balochistan High Court against these arrests.
According to government sources, three rounds of talks have been held with the sit-in participants so far, but no results have been achieved.
The provincial government has sealed the city’s entrances with containers and has taken the stance that the sit-in participants are not being allowed to enter the city due to security concerns.
The sit-in is not only affecting public transport but also raising questions about the law and order situation in the province.
Political observers say that the problem can only be resolved through talks and both the government and the BNP will have to adopt a flexible approach so that the public’s problems are resolved.
